Everything you need to know about the 2026 Irish Open

The golf world’s attention turns to Doonbeg this week as a star-studded field gathers for the 2026 Irish Open.

The tournament comes just 16 miles from Lahinch, where Great Britain and Ireland secured a dramatic Walker Cup victory, and follows Rory McIlroy’s memorable triumph at The K Club last year.

McIlroy returns to headline the field at Trump International Golf Links & Hotel in County Clare, where the Irish Open will be staged for the first time.

The tournament also serves as the latest stop on the DP World Tour before next week’s BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

Here is everything you need to know about the 2026 Irish Open.

What happened last year?

McIlroy produced a dramatic finish to win his second Irish Open title at The K Club in 2025.

Five months after completing the career Grand Slam with victory at the Masters, the Northern Irishman delighted the home crowd by beating Sweden’s Joakim Lagergren in a play-off.

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McIlroy trailed Lagergren by two shots on the 72nd hole before sinking a 25-foot eagle putt to force a play-off.

He eventually won on the third extra hole after a thrilling final round that also featured Adrien Saddier, Angel Hidalgo and Rafael Cabrera-Bello.

The victory came nine years after McIlroy’s first Irish Open title and provided a timely boost ahead of the Ryder Cup, where he helped Europe retain the trophy at Bethpage Black.

Who to look out for?

McIlroy will attract much of the attention as he attempts to become a three-time Irish Open winner and join Seve Ballesteros, Nick Faldo, Bernhard Langer and Colin Montgomerie.

He faces strong competition, including several of Ireland’s leading players.

Shane Lowry, who won the tournament as an amateur in 2009, is seeking his first individual title in four years. He finished tied 15th last year.

Tom McKibbin also arrives in good form after finishing tied sixth at last month’s British Masters following a challenge for the title.

Three-time major winner Padraig Harrington and two-time PGA Tour winner Seamus Power add further strength to the Irish contingent.

Two-time major champion Jon Rahm is another major contender. The Spaniard is targeting a third Irish Open title after previous victories at Portstewart in 2017 and Lahinch in 2019.

Rahm arrives in Ireland after winning the LIV Golf individual championship for the third consecutive year.

Other LIV Golf players in the field include McKibbin, England’s Tyrrell Hatton and Chile’s Joaquin Niemann.

There is also plenty of Ryder Cup experience, with Europe captain Luke Donald joined by Robert MacIntyre, Sepp Straka and twins Nicolai and Rasmus Hojgaard.

Brooks Koepka, a five-time major champion, also returns after missing the cut on his Irish Open debut last year.

Will Donald Trump attend?

US President Donald Trump is expected to attend the Irish Open because he owns the Doonbeg resort where the tournament is being held.

Trump is due to visit Ireland during a two-day trip that includes meetings with Irish President Catherine Connolly and Taoiseach Micheál Martin.

He is expected to arrive in Ireland on Saturday and could present the Irish Open winner with the trophy on Sunday.

Tee times are due to be released on Tuesday.

A brief history

The Irish Open was first held in 1927 and this year’s tournament will be the 71st edition.

The event has been staged at 21 courses across the island of Ireland, including celebrated links venues such as Royal Portrush, Royal County Down and Portmarnock.

Portmarnock has hosted the tournament a record 19 times.

The Irish Open attracted many of Europe’s leading players during the 1980s and 1990s, with a long list of major champions among its winners.

Past champions include McIlroy, Rahm, Harrington, Sergio Garcia, Jose Maria Olazabal, Montgomerie, Faldo, Ian Woosnam, Ballesteros, Sam Torrance and Ben Crenshaw.

What about the venue?

Trump International Golf Links & Hotel, formerly known simply as Doonbeg, was designed by former world number one Greg Norman and opened in 2002.

The links course was later redesigned by architect Martin Hawtree before the property was acquired by Trump in 2014 and renamed.

The layout has an unusual design for a tour venue, featuring five par-fives and five par-threes.

The signature hole is the par-three 14th, which can measure as little as 111 yards and offers a spectacular backdrop.

With McIlroy leading a field packed with major champions, Ryder Cup stars and leading European players, the 2026 Irish Open promises another week of high-quality golf in County Clare.